AAP not a force in Punjab, Congress main rival: BJP vice-prez Prabhat Jha

New Delhi: The ‘misdeeds’ of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi have ‘exposed its real character’ and it is not a force in Punjab politics anymore, BJP vice-president Prabhat Jha has said, adding that the Congress is the main rival of the state’s Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance.Jha, who is BJP’s Punjab in-charge, also claimed that the ruling alliance would create history by securing its third consecutive victory in the assembly polls, expected to be held early next year.

Jha said the BJP would contest 23 seats in the 117-member assembly while the SAD will contest the remaining 94. He also said that it was for the SAD to decide its chief ministerial candidate and the BJP’s role was that of a ‘younger brother’ in the alliance.“AAP is nowhere in Punjab… our contest is with the Congress,” Jha asserted in an interview.
He said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will be the main face of SAD-BJP campaign in the state. “Badal has devoted his whole life for the people of Punjab. Serving the people of Punjab is his worship,” Jha said.

Hitting out at the AAP, which has seen some desertions in Punjab over the past few days, Jha said the party lacks a state leader. “Due to this, they have people who in the past have been seen with Khalistani elements. This is going to harm the state,” Jha contended.Answering a query on cicketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has decided to float a party after resigning from the BJP, Jha said everybody has a right to take his own decisions in a democracy. “He is not our problem. Basically, he was a cricketer and is not a leader. He has as much understanding of politics as a cricketer has.”IANS